Polish defence ministry taken to court over helicopter tender

Polish-based manufacturer PZL Świdnik goes to court against the ministry of defence on Friday to challenge a decision made by the erstwhile government on a lucrative helicopter tender.

Photo: Glowimages

In April 2015, the ministry stated that only one bidder, French-based multinational Airbus Group, met the requirements of the tender.

Therefore, the remaining two bidders (US concern Sikorsky with its subsidiary PZL Mielec and multinational AgustaWestland, at the time the owner of Polish-based firm PZL Świdnik) were to be excluded from further proceedings.

The defence ministry argued that one of the rejected bidders was unable to meet the delivery dates for the helicopters, while the other had proposed a machine without weapons. Both requirements were essential for the next stage of proceedings, the ministry argued.

However, PZL Świdnik argues that the ministry itself flouted regulations in the tender.

No final agreement on the helicopters has been signed.

Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, whose Law and Justice party came to power after winning the 25 October general election, has argued that the tender should go to a Polish-based company.

PZL Świdnik was a subsidiary of AgustaWestland, which in December 2015 was subsumed by Italian-based group Finmeccanica.

Airbus has said that it intends to employ 1,250 people in Poland by 2020, as well as to create a further 2,000 jobs in connection with the tender.